Jazz composers don't put together octets to be loud; they do it because they're thinking orchestrally — varied colors and voicings, and in the case of Pablo Ablanedo's Octet(o), contrary rhythmic motions.

Patricia Barber is back. The 57-year-old singer, songwriter, and pianist emerged from her home base of Chicago in the early ’90s with a string of recordings that established her equally in all three categories.

It's tough enough that there are several rescheduled events that were pushed into the new year by Hurricane Sandy and other factors, but how to squeeze everything else into a list of 10? Mark your calendars.

A definition of the term Third Stream probably comes best by way of illustration: a teacher known for his jazz and klezmer background coaching a progressive bluegrass band by telling them to listen to a late-Beethoven string quartet.

Dave Douglas told the audience at the Regattabar that the inspiration for his new album, Be Still (Greenleaf), was a challenge from his mother before she died in 2011 — a list of hymns she wanted him to play.